Baruc 6

NOVA VULGATA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Exemplum epistulae, quam mi sit Ieremias ad abducendos cap tivos inBabyloniam a rege Babyloniorum, ut nuntiaret illis secundum quod praeceptum estei a Deo. Propter peccata, quae peccastis ante Deum, abducemini in Babyloniam captivi aNabuchodonosor rege Babyloniorum.	1 This is a copy of the letter that Jeremiah sent to those who would be taken captive into Babylon by the king of Babylon, so as to prophesy to them according to the warning he had received about them from God. “Because of the sins which you have sinned before God, you will be carried away into the captivity of Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
2 Ingressi itaque in Babylonem, eritis illicannis pluribus et tempus longum usque ad generationes septem; post hoc autemeducam vos inde cum pace.	2 And so, having been taken into Babylon, you will be there many years and for a long time, even to seven generations, yet after this, I will lead you away from there with peace.
3 Nunc autem videbitis in Babylone deos argenteos etaureos et ligneos in umeris portari, ostentantes metum gentibus.	3 But now, you will see in Babylon gods of gold and of silver, and of stone and of wood, carried upon shoulders, an awful display for the peoples.
4 Cavete ergo,ne et vos assimilati assimilemini alienigenis, et metus vos capiat in ipsis.	4 See to it, then, that you do not in effect become like these strangers and become afraid, so that in awe you would be carried away into their midst.
5 Videntes turbam ante et retro adorantem eos, dicite autem in corde vestro: “Te oportet adorare, Domine ”.	5 And so, seeing the turmoil, behind you and in front of you, as they are worshiping, say in your hearts, ‘You ought to be adored, O Lord.’
6 Angelus enim meus vobiscum est; ipse autemexquiret animas vestras.	6 For my angel is with you. And I myself will examine your souls.
7 Nam lingua eorum polita a fabro; ipsa etiam inaurataet inargentata falsa sunt et non possunt loqui.	7 For their tongue is polished by the craftsman, and they themselves are even inlaid with gold and silver, yet they are false and unable to speak.
8 Et sicut virgini ornatumamanti, accepto auro fabricantur	8 And, just like a virgin who loves to decorate herself, so do they take up gold and make designs with it.
9 coronas super capita deorum suorum. Interdumautem accidit etiam, ut sacerdotes, subtrahentes a diis aurum et argentum,erogent illud in semetipsos	9 Their gods have crowns of certified gold upon their heads, from which the priests subtract gold and silver, and spend it on themselves.
10 et dent ex ipso et prostitutis in lupanari. Etornant illos ut homines vestimentis, deos argenteos et aureos et ligneos.	10 Moreover, they even give from it to prostitutes, and use it to adorn kept women, and when they receive it back from the kept women, they use it to adorn their gods.
11 Hiautem non liberantur ab aerugine et tinea.	11 But these cannot be freed from rust and moths.
12 Opertis illis veste purpurea,extergunt faciem eorum propter pulverem domus, qui est plurimus super eos.	12 Although they are covered with a purple garment, they must wipe off their face, because of the dust of the house, which is very great around them.
13 Etsceptrum habet ut homo, iudex regionis, qui in se peccantem non interficiet.	13 Yet he who holds a scepter like a man, like the judge of the region, cannot put to death one who sins against him.
14 Habet etiam gladium in manu dextera et securim, se autem de bello et alatronibus non liberabit. Unde notum est quia non sunt dii;	14 And though he holds in his hand a sword and an axe, yet he cannot free himself from war and robbers. From this let it be known to you that they are not gods.
15 non ergotimueritis eos. Sicut enim vas hominis confractum inutile fit, tales sunt dii eorum.	15 Therefore, do not fear them. For just as the vessel a man uses becomes useless when broken, so also are their gods.
16 Collocatis illis in domo, oculi eorum pleni sunt pulvere ex pedibusintroeuntium.	16 When they are set up in a house, their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter.
17 Et sicut alicui, qui regem offendit, circumsaeptae sunt aulae,tamquam ad mortem ducto, domus eorum muniunt sacerdotes ostiis et clausuris etseris, ne a latronibus exspolientur.	17 And like one who has offended the king and is surrounded at every door, or like a corpse about to be carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be plundered by robbers.
18 Lucernas accendunt et quidem plures quamsibi ipsis, quarum nullam videre possunt.	18 They light candles to them, and in great number, and still they are unable to see, for they are like logs in the house.
19 Sunt autem sicut trabes in domo;corda vero eorum dicunt elingere serpentes, qui de terra sunt; dum comedunt eoset vestimentum eorum, non sentiunt.	19 It is truly said that the creeping things, which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, and yet when these devour them and their garments, they do not feel it.
20 Nigrae fiunt facies eorum a fumo, qui indomo fit.	20 Their faces are made black by the smoke that is made in the house.
21 Super corpus eorum et super caput volitant noctuae et hirundines etaves, similiter et cattae.	21 Over their bodies and over their heads fly owls and swallows and birds, and similarly, even cats.
22 Unde scietis quia non sunt dii; non ergotimueritis eos.	22 From this you should understand that they are not gods. Therefore, neither should you fear them.
23 Aurum enim, quod circa se habent ad speciem, nisi aliquis exterseritaeruginem, non fulgebit; neque enim, cum conflabantur, sentiebant.	23 Furthermore, the gold which they have is shiny, but unless someone wipes off the rust, they will not shine. And even when they were molten, they did not feel it.
24 Ex omnipretio empta sunt, in quibus spiritus non est.	24 They acquire all kinds of costly things, yet there is no breath in them.
25 Sine pedibus, in umerisportantur, ostentantes ignobilitatem suam hominibus; confunduntur et, quiexcolunt ea,	25 Without feet, they are carried upon shoulders, showing their unworthiness to all men. And so, may those who worship them be confounded.
26 propter quod, ne forte cadat in terram, per ipsos erigetur.Neque, si quis illud erectum statuerit, per semetipsum movebitur neque, siinclinatum fuerit, erigetur; sed sicut mortuis munera illis apponuntur.	26 Because of this, if they fall to the ground, they do not get up by themselves; and if someone sets it upright, they will not stand firm on their own; yet, just like the dead, offerings are placed next to them.
27 Hostias vero eorum sacerdotes eorum vendunt et abutuntur; similiter et uxoreseorum, ex ipsis partes sale condientes, neque mendico neque infirmo aliquidimpertiunt. De sacrificiis eorum menstruatae et fetae contingunt.	27 The priests themselves sell their sacrifices, and they spend it wastefully; and, in like manner, their wives take part of it, never sharing anything with the sick or the beggars.
28 Scientesitaque ex his quia non sunt dii, ne timueritis eos.	28 Fertile and menstruous women contaminate their sacrifices. And so, knowing from this that they are not gods, you should not fear them.
29 Unde enim vocabuntur dii? Quia mulieres apponunt diis argenteis et aureis etligneis,	29 For what reason are they called gods? It is because the women serve before the gods of silver and gold and wood,
30 et in domibus illorum sacerdotes sedent habentes tunicas scissas etcapita et barbam rasam, quorum capita nuda sunt.	30 and the priests sit in their houses, with torn garments, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing on their heads.
31 Rugiunt autem clamantescoram diis suis sicut in cena mortui.	31 But they roar, shouting out to their gods, just as at a feast for the dead.
32 A vestimento eorum auferunt sacerdoteset vestiunt uxores suas et filios suos.	32 The priests take away the garments of their gods, and clothe their wives and their sons.
33 Neque si quid mali patiantur abaliquo neque si bonum, poterint retribuere; neque constituere regem possuntneque auferre.	33 And whether they endure evil from someone, or good, they are not able to repay it. They can neither establish a king, nor remove him.
34 Similiter neque divitias neque aes poterunt dare. Si quisillis votum voverit nec reddiderit, non requirent.	34 Similarly, they can neither give riches, nor avenge evil. If anyone makes a vow to them, and does not keep it, they cannot require it.
35 De morte hominem nonliberabunt neque infirmiorem a potentiore eripient.	35 They cannot free a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong.
36 Hominem caecum ad visumnon restituent, de necessitate hominem non liberabunt.	36 They cannot restore sight to the blind, nor free a man from need.
37 Viduae nonmiserebuntur neque orphano benefacient.	37 They will not have mercy on the widow, nor do good to orphans.
38 Lapidibus de monte similes sunt,lignea et inaurata et inargentata; qui autem excolunt illa, confundentur.	38 Their gods of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like stones from the mountain; and those who worship them will be confounded.
39 Quomodo ergo aestimandum aut dicendum est esse illos deos?	39 In what way, then, is it to be supposed or said that they are gods?
40 Adhuc etiam ipsi Chaldaei non honorant ea; qui cum viderint mutum non posseloqui, afferunt Bel postulantes illum loqui,	40 For even the Chaldeans themselves do not honor these, who, when they hear about a mute, unable to speak, they offer him to Bel, asking from him that he may speak,
41 quasi ipse possit sentire. Etnon possunt ipsi, cum intellexerint, relinquere ea; sensum enim non habent.	41 as if these, who are unable to move, would be able to perceive. And even they themselves, when they shall understand this, will abandon them, for, having come to their senses, they do not consider them to be gods.
42 Mulieres autem circumdatae funibus in viis sedent succendentes furfurem;	42 Yet the women, wrapped in cords, sit by the roads, burning olive-stones.
43 cumautem aliqua ex ipsis, attracta ab aliquo transeunte, dormierit cum eo, proximaesuae exprobrat quod ea non sit digna habita, sicut ipsa, neque funis eiusdiruptus.	43 And when any one of them, having been attracted by someone passing by, would sleep with him, she reproaches her neighbor because she was not found worthy, as she was, nor was her cord broken.
44 Omnia autem, quae illis fiunt, falsa sunt; quomodo ergo aestimandumest aut dicendum illos esse deos?	44 But all things that occur with them are false; in what way, then, is it to be considered or said that they are gods?
45 A fabris et ab aurificibus facti sunt; nihil aliud erunt, nisi id quod voluntartifices.	45 Yet they have been made by the workmen and the goldsmiths. They will be nothing else but what the priests want them to be.
46 Ipsi etiam, qui ea faciunt, non erunt multi temporis; itaquenumquid possunt, quae ab ipsis fabricata sunt, esse dii?	46 For the artisans themselves, who make them, do not exist for a long time. So then, can these things, which have been made by them, be gods?
47 Reliquerunt enimfalsa et opprobrium postea futuris.	47 Yet they have bequeathed falsehoods and disgrace after this to the future.
48 Nam cum supervenerit illis proelium etmala, cogitant apud se sacerdotes, ubi se abscondant cum illis.	48 For when they are overcome by battle or evil, the priests consider among themselves where they may hide themselves with them.
49 Quomodo ergonon est sentiendum quia non sunt dii, qui nec liberant se de bello nec de malis?	49 Therefore, why would they be perceived to be gods, who can neither free themselves from war, nor rescue themselves from evils?
50 Nam cum sint lignea et inaurata et inargentata, scietur postea quia falsasunt; gentibus universis et regibus manifestum erit quia non sunt dii sed operamanuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus in illis est.	50 For, in as much as they are only wood, inlaid with gold and silver, so let it be known henceforth, by all nations and kings, that they are false; because it has been revealed that they are not gods, but the work of men’s hands, and there is no work of God in them.
51 Cui ergo non notum est quodnon sunt dii?	51 For this reason, then, it has been accepted that they are not gods, but are works of the hands of men, and no work of God is in them.
52 Regem enim regioni non suscitabunt neque pluviam hominibus dabunt.	52 They have not raised up a king in the region, nor will they give rain to men.
53 Iudicium quoque eorum non discernent nec regiones liberabunt iniuriam patientes,quia nihil possunt sicut corniculae inter medium caeli et terrae.	53 They will not discern a judgment for anyone, nor will they free a region from injury, because they can do nothing, like crows in the middle of heaven and earth.
54 Etenim cuminciderit in domum deorum ligneorum vel inauratorum vel inargentatorum ignis,sacerdotes quidem ipsorum fugient et liberabuntur; ipsi vero sicut trabes inmedio comburentur.	54 And, indeed, when there happens to be a fire in the house of these gods of wood, silver, and gold, the priests will certainly run away and save themselves, but these will truly be burned up like logs in the midst of it.
55 Regi autem et hostibus non resistent. Quomodo ergoaestimandum est aut recipiendum quia dii sunt?	55 Yet they cannot withstand a king and war. In what way, then, is it to be considered or accepted that they are gods?
56 Neque a furibus neque a latronibus se liberabunt dii lignei et inaurati etinargentati;	56 These gods of wood and stone, inlaid with gold and silver, can free themselves neither from thieves nor from robbers; whoever is stronger than they are,
57 quibus hi fortiores sunt, quia aurum et argentum et vestimentum,quo operti sunt, auferent illis et abibunt; nec illi sibi auxilium ferent.	57 will take up these things, the gold and the silver, and the garments which cover them, and will get away; neither will they be able to help themselves.
58 Itaque melius est esse regem ostentantem virtutem suam aut vas in domo utile,quo uti potest is, qui possidet illud, quam falsi dii, aut etiam ostium in domo,quod custodit, quae in ea sunt, quam falsi dii, et columna lignea in regiis quamfalsi dii.	58 Therefore, it is better to be a king displaying his power, or a useful vessel in a house, about which he who owns it will boast, or a door in the house, which keeps safe what is inside, than to be these gods of falsehood.
59 Sol quidem et luna et sidera, cum sint splendida et emissa adutilitates, oboediunt;	59 For the sun, and the moon, and the constellations, though they are brilliant and have been sent forth to be useful, are obedient.
60 similiter et fulgur cum apparuerit, perspicuum est;eodem modo et spiritus in omni regione spirat;	60 Similarly, the lightning, when it appears and is evident, and, in like manner, the wind blowing in every region,
61 et nubes, quibus cum imperatumfuerit a Deo perambulare universum orbem, perficiunt, quod imperatum est;	61 and the clouds, when God orders them to make their rounds over the whole world, each carries out what was commanded.
62 ignis etiam missus desuper, ut consumat montes et silvas, facit, quod praeceptumest: haec autem neque speciebus neque virtutibus uni eorum similia sunt.	62 Furthermore, the fire, having been sent from above so that it may consume mountains and woods, does what it has been instructed to do. Yet these are not similar, neither in splendor, nor in power, to any one of them.
63 Undeneque aestimandum est neque dicendum illos esse deos, quando non possunt nequeiudicium iudicare neque benefacere hominibus.	63 From this, it should neither be supposed, nor said, that they are gods; since they are neither able to give judgment, nor to accomplish anything for men.
64 Scientes itaque quia non suntdii, ne timueritis eos.	64 And so, knowing that they are not gods, therefore, have no fear of them.
65 Neque enim regibus maledicent neque benedicent.	65 For they can neither curse kings, nor bless them.
66 Signa in caelo gentibusnon ostendent neque ut sol lucebunt neque illuminabunt sicut luna.	66 Besides, they show no signs in heaven to the nations; they neither shine like the sun, nor give light like the moon.
67 Bestiaemeliores sunt illis, quae possunt, fugientes sub tegumentum, prodesse sibi.	67 Beasts are better than they are, for they can flee under a covering, and so protect themselves.
68 Nullo itaque modo nobis est manifestum quia sunt dii; propter quod ne timueritiseos.	68 Therefore, in no way is it clear to us that they are gods; because of this, you should not fear them.
69 Nam sicut in cucumerario formido nihil custodit, ita sunt dii illorumlignei et inaurati et inargentati.	69 For just as a scarecrow in a cucumber field protects nothing, so are their gods of wood, and silver, and inlaid gold.
70 Eodem modo et in horto spinae albae, superquam omnis avis sedet; similiter et mortuo proiecto in tenebris similes sunt diieorum lignei et inaurati et inargentati.	70 They are just the same as a white thorn in a garden, on which all the birds sit; they are even like a corpse thrown out into the darkness, just so are these gods of wood, and inlaid gold, and inlaid silver.
71 A purpura et bysso, quae super illostineant, scietis quia non sunt dii; ipsa etiam postremo comeduntur, et eritopprobrium in regione.	71 By the purple, and likewise the Royal purple, moth-eaten garments upon them, you will then know that they are not gods. And finally, they themselves are consumed and will be a disgrace in the region.
72 Melior est ergo homo iustus, qui non habet simulacra,nam erit longe ab opprobriis.	72 Better is the just man who has no such images, for he will be far from disgrace.”